Some
of the ships mentioned below and on the following page(s) are those on
which members of the extended family have served and noted accordingly.
Others are as photographed at varying times during the last century, by
various members of the family, which are acknowledged accordingly.

HMS
Andromeda, 1904

My
Mother's Brother, William John Pearce, served aboard this his first and
only ship and fell overboard in the Bay of Bengall and was drowned, aged
19 years.

(Michael
Byard Collection)

HMS
Hood,

Chief
Petty Officer Will Thatcher served aboard two battleships, HMS "Hood"
and HMS "Valiant", and was seconded to the New Zealand Navy
aboard the Cruiser HMS "Dunedin". during the 1930s During
the Second World War he served aboard the Aircraft Carrier HMS "Illustrious"

Will
was my Wife's Great Uncle.

(Michael
Byard Collection)

HMS
Dunedin

These
Royal Navy Sloops were photographed by Edward (Jack) Byard during the
1920s in the harbour at Great Yarmouth. They are light loaded, as can
be seen by the revealed waterline. Note also the exposed light naval
gun on the foredeck.

(Michael
Byard Collection)

Royal
Yacht
"Victoria & Albert"

The
photograph opposite is of the old Royal Yacht, "Victoria and Albert",
on which Will Thatcher apparently served for a short time. The photo
was found in his effects by his cousin who passed it his Brother, Phil
Edwards, late father of my Wife Anne, in September 1999 who in turn
gave it to me.

(Michael
Byard Collection)

Copy
of Shore Pass issued in USA

HMS
Byard was a 'Captains Class' Frigate given to the Royal Navy under the USA
'Lend-lease' programme.She displaced 1300 tons and was 290 feet in length,
with a beam of 35 feet. Launched on 6th March, 1943 she was completed early
1944, after service in England she returned to the USA on 1st January 1946
for scrapping.This copy of a leave pass was sent to Michael Byard in the
1970s.

Cover
of Power Boats 1939 Brochure

Motor
Torpedo Boat 451

Built
by British Power Boat Company of Hythe, Southampton, designed by Hubert
Scott-Paine,(1890 - 1954) she was originally laid down as a Motor Gun
Boat and given the number 132, however she was re-designated whilst being
completed to that of Motor Torpedo Boat 451.

After
the war she was bought by Edward (Jack) and Mavis Byard and converted
into a houseboat on the Lymington River, in Hampshire. (Click on MTB 451
below.)